351C rebuild

I'm thinking about rebuilding a 351C that I have sitting in my parts car. It's out of a 72 Ranchero GT and is a 2V motor. I pulled the top end of the motor in january when it blew the head gaskets and has developed some rust in the bores. The heads will need to be rebuilt, most notably with hardened valve seats and will also need to be checked to make sure that they are still true (ie: even mating surface of the block). I was wondering what I might be able to expect from it with an at home rebuild (excluding any nessissary machine work). I plan to reuse the connecting rods and crank as well as the heads. I would like to put a 4bbl intake and carb on it as well as a beefier cam and a P&P job on the heads as well. I plan to put this in my 72 Gran Torino and will be driving it to and from work and school as well as the occasional blast down the drag strip. Any input I can get on this would be greatly appreciated as this will be my first stepping stone on my way to a 434.

Originally Posted by torkair

I'm thinking about rebuilding a 351C that I have sitting in my parts car. It's out of a 72 Ranchero GT and is a 2V motor. I pulled the top end of the motor in january when it blew the head gaskets and has developed some rust in the bores. The heads will need to be rebuilt, most notably with hardened valve seats and will also need to be checked to make sure that they are still true (ie: even mating surface of the block). I was wondering what I might be able to expect from it with an at home rebuild (excluding any nessissary machine work). I plan to reuse the connecting rods and crank as well as the heads. I would like to put a 4bbl intake and carb on it as well as a beefier cam and a P&P job on the heads as well. I plan to put this in my 72 Gran Torino and will be driving it to and from work and school as well as the occasional blast down the drag strip. Any input I can get on this would be greatly appreciated as this will be my first stepping stone on my way to a 434.

Sounds like fun times. If the crank is shot/scored, you may want to save up for the rotating assy that you really want.

>most notably with hardened valve seats
No, you don't really need that.

A proper valve job will be sufficient. You will need to have the heads completely redone - replace the valves with stainless, replace all the guides with compatible material (bronze alloy), good viton seals and springs that match your chosen cam.

If you port the heads, go easy - just clean up the intakes and the short turn - do not polish the intake. Clean up the machined area under the valve, round and smooth it but do not remove it. Go back with the stock valve size (2.08/1.65). Pick your intake and use either Felpro or Mr. Gasket Ultra Seal gaskets - compare to the intake and the head port. If needed, open up the head ports a bit to match the intake, but don't go more than maybe an inch down the port with that.

You can polish the exhaust, round the roof and remove the Thermactor bump. You can also match it to your header gasket.

Cut the heads as needed - CC the chambers to see what you have.

Get the pistons you plane to use, have the shop mock up the motor with the fresh crank and rods and deck the block so the pistons are on the deck or no more than .005 below.

A cam in the 214/224 range would be about right. you'll have to change rockers as the stockers probably won't work with the lift on most cams in that range (like the Crane 523942) have over .5 lift. The Crane conversion kit and a set of Harland Sharp rockers would provide a reliable setup.

An 11" performance converter would be required behind the engine. An Edelbrock 600 on top of an Ed 2665 is as good as anything - the new Ed Ar Gap might be a touch better.

Expect 300~330 HP out of that, more or less.

If you're going to build a 434, it'll be something other than a Cleveland I expect. If you're going to start collecting parts for a bigger motoe, get a 460 and a 511 stroker kit.

Sounds like it'll be alot of fun building this motor. The only reason I dont go with a stroked 460 is because I'd like to out live the car or at least the motor . I'm not saying I'm a bad driver, it's just a differend flavor or horsepower than what I like.

Originally Posted by torkair

Sounds like it'll be alot of fun building this motor. The only reason I dont go with a stroked 460 is because I'd like to out live the car or at least the motor . I'm not saying I'm a bad driver, it's just a differend flavor or horsepower than what I like.

Eh? You can't get 434 out of a 351C. And a 511 will easily out live you if build with decent parts. So, I'm not real clear what you mean, exactly.

the thing about the bad driver tells me he thinks he will kill himself with the power the 511 will make

I would be building the 434 out of a 400 block that I've got in my workshop right now. As for the 511 it's not that I wouldn't be able to handle it at the track, I would like to be able to drive to the track in the car that I'm racing and back home again, I'll save BBF status for something else.

Originally Posted by torkair

I would be building the 434 out of a 400 block that I've got in my workshop right now. As for the 511 it's not that I wouldn't be able to handle it at the track, I would like to be able to drive to the track in the car that I'm racing and back home again, I'll save BBF status for something else.

Don't go say that over on 460ford.com. LOL